Modern Vespa

Today I joined with another member of my group riding team
to pre-ride a new route for a upcoming ride. We do this to
become familiar with the route and anticipate road closures
and bridges out under construction.

Beautiful sunny day, but really high wind. Straight up
25 mph wind with gusts to +35 mph.

I have experienced this before on extended rides when
you have to push on. This was tough with holding on
as you are being blown all over the road way.

I had to slow down to compensate. The worst was when
your route put the high wind at your side.

Got home safe but tired as heck. Even the decent windscreen
on my new 2022 Kymco 550 didn't help.

The wind gusts were so strong it literally pushed the helmet
on my head craming to one side.

Blowing in Minnesota.

Bob Copeland

This bridge can be nasty to ride over when it's windy. I've had to crawl at 20-30kph sometimes.

https://7news.com.au/news/weather/wild-winds-hit-tas-closing-roads-bridges-c-3687983

Bob, depending on the wind direction, you could try riding in a 'echelon formation' the way racing cyclists do.

Than just looks scary. You are a brave man.

Chris from CLE

I got blown into the opposing lane one time on a Yamaha majesty. The Vespa seems more stable in high winds.

It is always windy here in the Tropical Tip. I often have to cross a 2 1/2 mile long causeway with the high part at 65' above the water over the Intracoastal Waterway. The prevailing SE wind is almost always a crosswind. The speed limit is 55, which means that traffic is usually 10 mph faster than that. On the windier days, you have no choice but to slow down - as I see traffic coming up behind me, I flash my brake lights to get their attention... hopefully.

With a group ride, I'd suggest slow down and go single file instead of staggered until the wind conditions or the direction changes for the better. Ride safe, have fun.

The new Kymco is about 480 lbs. I weight 190 lbs. Despite this
678 lbs combination, I was being shoved all over the lane.

I know a scooter and rider cut a small mass against the wind.
Despite this, holding hard on to the handle bars, I felt like
I could almost be blown off the road. I obviously slowed
down.

Ride safe everyone - I am usually not out in this strong of
winds.

Bob Copeland

Someone noted years ago that they would never buy a motorcycle that they couldn't see through. On a windy day my 250 Nighthawk is much more wind proof than the Helix clone despite being seventy pounds lighter. The 520 pound Kawasaki doesn't even notice cross winds. At least the ones I have encountered.

Was going to swap my battery this morning to go for a ride and came upon this across the street. Ride cancelled until further notice.

Past a certain size, a bigger windscreen seems counterproductive to me: my Euro-spec Flyscreen does seem to have a minor stabilizing effect, but it seems anything above a mid-size (speaking strictly of Vespas now) pronounces the "sail" effect, particularly in crosswinds, which for me are of the biggest concern. (The screen on your cool Kymco ain't exactly tiny, either.) I've been blown around a few times by very high gusts, but those are the sort I'd frankly be nervous to drive in, let alone ride. If it's windy enough for there to be a weather alert/warning, it's best to keep it parked, regardless of how many wheels your ride has. Yep, good call.

Hi Bob, enjoy that brandy after the wind you had to ride in, I'm sure it tastes great, especially since you're home safe.

I hate riding in wind. Rode in some very strong crosswinds here is Alberta on my Ninja when I still had it-wind is the only thing I don't enjoy about riding. I would take a straight down rain anyday over wind.

There is something scary about riding around the Crowsnest lakes (the last bit of the Crowsnest pass on highway 3, a fairly popular and often windy route up here), stopping for a coffee and seeing the ambulance zoom by. Minutes later someone in line tells you a motorcycle was blown off the road. Knowing you have a long ways yet to get home. I had to hang off the side of my bike to keep things stable that day-worked yet incredibly tiring. Would have had a brandy upon arriving home yet I just went to bed, I was exhausted!

I can't imagine how a Vespa could handle that. So now I'm a fair weather rider! I'd love to try a tour one day yet excessive wind is the only thing that has me wondering about that, the weather patterns these days seems to have so much more wind than I ever remember.

Is a Vespa better in crosswind than I think?

This is a tad subjective, but: I find the GTS, with Euro-spec Flyscreen, fairly stable in all but the nastiest crosswinds. Given the wheel size, the bike tracks surprisingly well. But it depends on what you're used to, and your history with two wheels.

Kawi_girl/amateriat,

Weather and the climate seem to be doing some strange stuff. This
Spring in Minnesota has been (a) Cold - not uncommon, (b) Windy
as heck.

If possible, as you mentioned, I try to avoid riding in bad weather.
I have called off group rides/rescheduled do to rain/cold - but not
wind. This may be the new normal.

The reported ride above was a real blow. One particular, I came around
a sweeping curve - originally protected by trees - when I cleared
the trees the high gusting wind literally drove me into the oncoming lane.
Kind of time to slow down.

Ride safe friends,

Bob Copeland
Frost Bite Falls has turned warm - time to swat mosquitoes
Living the Dream here in the North Woods